Selective reel dispenser



March 5, 1968 J. FRESCO 3,371,972

SELECTIVE REEL DISPENSER Filed March 7, 1967 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 JACQUE F RESCO INVENTOR. 22 LL March 5, 1968 J. FREsco 3,371,972

SELECTIVE REEL DISPENSER Filed March 7, 1967 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR JACQUE FRESCO United States Patent Ofiice 3,371,972 Patented Mar. 5, 1968 3,371,972 SELECTIVE REEL DISPENSER Jacque Fresco, 3112 SW. 23rd St., Miami, Fla. 33133 Filed Mar. 7, 1967, Ser. No. 621,305 6 Claims. (Cl. 312-17) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A device for storing reels in parallel relation and selectively dispensing same by depressing indexed tabs corresponding to the reels.

Specification This invention relates in general to storage compartments for reels, such as sound tape, motion pictures and the like and more particularly to a selective dispenser for storing and selectively dispensing each of a plurality of reels retained in vertical adjacent relation.

Prior storage facilities for reels require individual containers usually stacked in adjacent rows on conventional shelving, which poses a laborious problem of location, removal and replacement of a single reel from a plurality thereof, as well as inadequately protecting the contents of the reel from deterioration and damage from handling.

The present invention overcomes the above objections and disadvantages by the provision of a longitudinal container for retaining a relatively large plurality of reels in side by side relation with a rotatable cover for completely enclosing all of the reels stored in the container, the construction of which is a principal object of the invention.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a plurality of integral finger operated projections in the container whereby individual reels may be selectively dispensed by the manual depression of an indexed dispensing projection corresponding to each reel.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a rotatable dial in the end of the container bearing an indices means for rotating to determine the particular indexed projection corresponding with a particular title, which title corresponds to each particular reel.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a one piece container adapted to receive a slidable arcuate cover and a rotatable indices wheel including flexible adjacent selective projections integral with and positioned beneath each stored reel.

These and other objects and advantages in one embodiment of the invention are described and shown in the following specification and drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a front elevation of the dispenser with a portion thereof broken away.

FIG. 2 is a cross sectional side elevation taken through section line 2--2, FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged left end elevation of the dispenser shown in FIG. 1 with portions thereof broken away.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary enlarged cross sectional view taken through section line 4-4, FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a diagrammatic cross sectional end view of the dispenser illustrating the dispensing of a selected reel.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the entire dispenser is made of well known molded plastic materials which consist of a pair of circular left and right end members 1 and 2, of substantially uniform thickness, having integral foot members 3 and 4, respectively, shaped to rest on a horizontal planar surface.

A longitudinal housing 5 has a hollow cylindrical shape of substantially uniform thickness within an arc in the order of 210 degrees taken about the principal axis aa thereof, which provides a straight opening along one side of the member about an are along one entire side in the order of degrees taken about the aforesaid axis.

Referring to FIG. 4,'a circular radial groove 6 is pro vided on the inside of each end member 1 and 2 to receive opposite end portions of the housing 5 which are secured therein by the use of well known adhesive means.

Referring to FIGS. 1, 2, and 4, the housing 5 is provided with a plurality of integral radial parallel spaced flanges 7 of predetermined width and height around the inner periphery thereof for loosely retaining and spacing a plurality of reels therebetween of predetermined width and having a diameter substantially equal to or less than the internal diameter of housing 5.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the lower edge of the housing 5 is formed downward in arcuate shape, as shown in FIG. 2 and is bifurcated by slots 8, as shown in FIG. 4, adjacent each flange 7, forming a plurality of independent tabs 9 normal to axis a-a on which predetermined indices are marked for identifying each space between the flange 7 of the body member. Clearance is provided adjacent the outer edge of the end tabs and the end members 1 and 2. The upper edge of the housing 5 terminates in a linear reinforcement-guide rib 10.

A cylindrical cover 11, shown in FIGS. 1, 2, 4, and 5, is formed from plastic material of uniform thickness and slidably retained by opposite ends 1 and 2 thereof in a pair of like facing circular grooves 12-12 in the opposite end members, best shown in FIG. 4, which cover is adapted for manual oscillation in a radial direction about axis a-a by an integral handle 13 projecting from the central front outer edge of the cover Ill, as shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 5.

The dispensing function of the dispenser is illustrated in FIG. 5, under the assumption that a reel assembly 14 is first moved into storage position between two of the flanges 7 by manual edgewise movement of the reel through the frontal opening.

When the tab corresponding to the stored reel is pressed downward by the finger, and flexing the portion of the member 5 between the slots 8, as illustrated in FIG. 5, the reel will freely roll outward for use by the action of gravity. The properties of the plastic selected for the body are intended to have a desired predetermined degree of flexibility to accomplish the dispensing feature. Thus any reel stored in the body member may be selectively dispensed in the same manner.

An indicator means for rapidly locating a reel having la; particular title is provided in the left hand end mem- Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, a manually rotatable knob 15 is journalled for rotation about the axis a-a in memher 1 and is provided with a coaxial indicator disc 16 positioned adjacent the inner surface of member 1. The dis-c has impressed thereon in equi-radially spaced relation the indices corresponding with tabs 9' and provision made adjacent each index for nomenclature or title corresponding to each particular reel positioned in the housing.

A window 17 is provided through member 1 for visual observation of the index and nomenclature. A plurality of equi-spaced radial notches 18 corresponding with the indices are provided in the outer periphery of the wheel for engagement with a 'ball and spring detent means 19 retained in member 1, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. Thus to locate a particular reel in the housing, the knob 15 is rotated to determine the index corresponding to a tab and the detent means will hold the disc in this position. Then a selected tab is pressed downward and the selected reel will dispense by gravity in a forward direction for use.

It is understood that certain modifications in the con struction, utilizing the features above described, are intended to come within the scope of the appended claims.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. A selective dispenser for circular reels comprising a longitudinal housing member having a cylindrical inner surface of predetermined radius about the principal axis thereof,

said housing member having an opening of predetermined width along one side thereof with the upper and lower edges of said member parallel said axis for the edgewise entry of said reels into said member positioned normal said axis,

a right and a left closure member secured to each pposite end of said housing member respectively with each lower end portion thereof terminating in a coplanar foot member for resting on a horizontal surface and supporting said housing member in a horizontal position,

the lower front portion of said housing member having a plurality of like equi-spaced radial slots therein forming a plurality of radial tongues of predetermined width with the outer end portion of each of said tongues normally positioned a predetermined distance above the lowermost portion of the upper surface thereof,

a flange of predetermined height around the inner periphery of said housing member co-linear with each of said slots forming parallel barriers at each side of each of said tongues for loosely retaining a reel positioned on the said lower portion of each of said tongues normal said axis whereby the manual downward flexure of any selected one of said tongues will permit a reel stored thereon to be dispensed by gravity from said housing member through said opening.

2. The construction recited in claim 1 including a tab integral with each of said tongues and extending outward therefrom for the selective manual downward flexure of each of said tongues and for bearing characters of an indices relating to said tongues.

3. A selective dispenser for circular reels comprising a longitudinal housing member of substantially uniform thickness made from molded plastic material of predetermined flexure having a cylindrical inner surface of predetermined radius about the principal axis,

said housing member having an opening along one side thereof a predetermined dimension smaller than the diameter of said reels with the upper and lower edges of said member parallel said axes for the forced edgewise entry of said reels into said member positioned normal said axis,

a right and a left closure member made from substantially rigid molded plastic material secured to each opposite end of each said housing member respectively by adhesive means with each lower end portion thereof terminating in a co-planar foot member for resting on a horizontal surface and supporting said housing member in a horizontal position,

the lower front portion of said housing member having a plurality of like equi-spaced radial slots therein forming a plurality of radial tongues of predetermined width with the outer end portion of each of said tongues normally positioned a predetermined distance above the lowermost portion of the upper surface thereof,

a flange of predetermined height around the inner periphery of said housing member co-linear with each of said slots forming parallel barriers at each side of each of said tongues for loosely retaining a reel forced through said opening and resting on the said lower portion of each of said tongues coaxial with said axis whereby the manual downward flexure of any selected one of said tongues will permit a reel stored thereon to be dispensed by gravity from said housing member through said opening.

4. The construction recited in claim 3 including a guide rib integral with and along the said upper edge of said housing member for reinforcing said housing member and for guiding each of said reels through said opening against the restraining action of each corresponding said tongue.

5. The construction recited in claim 3 including an index knob journalled for rotation coaxial said axis in one said closure member with a circular disc secured on the inner end thereof for axial rotation thereby,

equi-spaced indices in radial spaced position on said disc corresponding with the indices on said tabs,

each of said index on said disc bearing explanatory data radially adjacent thereto,

a window in said closure for exposing to observation each said index and its corresponding data for guiding the manual selective operation of said tabs when said knob is rotated accordingly.

6. The construction recited in claim 3 with each said closure member having a peripheral projection of uniform cross section extending a predetermined distance outward from said housing member,

each said peripheral projection having an inward facing channel about the periphery thereof,

a cylindrical shaped cover member of uniform thickness and predetermined circumference with each end thereof slidably engaged in each said channel in each said closure member respectively,

said cover member adapted and constructed for movement from a closed position over said opening to an open position exposing said opening when manually raised by rotation about said axis around each of said channels.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,429,076 9/1922 Helsley 3l2l2 1,602,188 10/1926 Cutler 22187 1,698,955 1/1929 Lutfring 221-289 X 2,330,173 9/1943 Gordon et al 3l215 2,402,076 6/1946 Painter 312-17 2,475,495 7/1949 Haag 3 l215 3,298,530 l/1967 Clouthier 3 l220 X SAMUEL F. COLEMAN, Primary Examiner. 

